A Guide to Your Preschoolers Development

Initiative
Making choices and plans

Child indicates a choice by pointing or some other action. Child expresses a choice in one or two words. Child expresses a choice with a short sentence. Child makes a plan with one or two details. Child makes a plan with three or more details.
Solving problems with materials

Child expresses frustration when encountering a problem with materials. Child identifies a problem with materials and asks for help. Child tries one way to solve a problem with materials. Child tries two ways to solve a problem with materials. Child tries three or more ways to solve a problem with materials.
Initiating play

Child engages in exploratory play. Child makes something with materials. Child engages in pretend play. During play with other children, child adds an idea that modifies the play. Child joins with other children in playing a game with rules.
Taking care of personal needs

Child observes as others do a self-care activity. Child accomplishes some parts of a self-care activity. Child accomplishes all parts of a self-care activity. Child identifies the need for a tool and uses it independently to accom
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plish a personal goal. Child helps another child in a self-care activity or program routine.
2003 High/Scope Educational Research Foundation

Social Relations
Relating to adults

Child participates in a conversation initiated by a familiar adult. Child participates in a conversation initiated by an unfamiliar adult. Child initiates an interaction with an adult. Child sustains an interaction with an adult. Child involves an adult in an activity and sustains the involvement.
Relating to other children

Child responds when another child initiates an interaction. Child initiates an interaction with another child. Child sustains an interaction with another child. Child invites another child to play. Child shows loyalty to another child.
Resolving interpersonal conflict

In a conflict with another child, child responds with yelling or physical

action. Child requests adult help in resolving a conflict with another child. Child identifies the problem in a conflict with another child. With adult help, child offers a solution to a conflict. Child negotiates the resolution of a conflict with another child.

Understanding and expressing feelings

Child expresses an emotion. Child comforts another child. Child talks about an emotion. Child represents an emotion through pretend play or art. Child identifies an emotion and gives a reason for it.

2003 High/Scope Educational Research Foundation